Seattle imposes year-long halt on new AI datacenters to shape regulations

Seattle City Council unanimously approved a year-long moratorium on building new AI-focused datacenters, with an amendment allowing existing centers to expand up to 20 MW during the pause. The goal is to study electricity use and urban-land implications and potentially require conditions such as transit and housing investments for permits. Activists worry the measure won’t curb power demand and could spur other centers to push for expansions, while officials push for broader state regulation in the next legislative session amid regional scrutiny of AI infrastructure and jobs.